host: from twitter -- is it true that current revenue only -- interest pays social tree, medicare and medicaid, and the rest is borrowed? guest: it is true that the discretionary part of the budget, everything else, nuclear facilities, the justice department, education, is a small part of the budget. the question is not so much about now, but in the future. in the future, medicare and medicaid spending, into a degree social security, will come to consume the entire budget because of the baby boomer retirement age -- wave and the increasing costs of health care. that is why lawmakers are working hard to get the fiscal house in order. host: we are talking about the so-called fiscal cliff talks happening in washington. if you want to follow along, we are starting a new page c- span.org/fiscalcliff, as well as a twitter feed. we are learning today that there are no face-to-face negotiations. republican leaders and president obama plan to take their arguments to the american people and directly and go on what many are calling a road show. republicans are planning to schedule event with sma